Electrical connector



F. M. WAKEFIELD.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1920.

1,381,772. Patented June 14, 1921.

ammo z UNITED STATES "PATENT, OFFICE.-

FLAKE M. WAKEFIELD, F ANNIS'ION,

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June14, 1921;

Application flled May 1, .1920. Serial No. 878,193.

To all whomjt may concern Be it lmown that I, FLAKE M. WAKEFIELD, a citizen of the United States, .residing at Anniston, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama, have I invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connectors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This'invention relates to certain. improvements in electrical connectors and has relation more particularly to a multiple connection embodying alined sockets,.and it is an the like, adapted for requisite connection with a source of electrical energy and wherein a plurality of sockets are employed in proper electrical connection with the plug, the connection with each socket embodying arotatable member constituting a part of said electrical connection and which memher is provided with means for either opening or closing the connection in accordance with the requirements of practice.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the "combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved connector whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for:

use, as will be hereinafter more, fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through an electrical connector constructed in accordance with an embodiment i0 of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of somewhat a diagrammatic character illustrating the electrical connections between the sockets and the arms in electrical connection'with the plug;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the central portion of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective, illustrating a movable contact member carried by a spindle or rod and the contact with which the same coacts.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawmgs, B denotes'atubularbody of material non-conductive of electricity and which has inserted within its opposite endsthe sockets S and S of conventional type and each of which embodies 'a'sleeve l of conductive ma- I terial and having electrical connection therewith the conductor 2 leading to and operatively engaged with a binding post 3. The blnding post 3 is carried by the inner end' portion of a conductivearm or strip 4 passing through a wall of the-body B and in u electrical connection with a contact member. or sleeve '5 embodied in the plug P.

Leading-from the second or central contact member 5 of the plug P and extending within the bore of the body B is a second conductive arm or strip 6 and the inserted end portion thereof is provided with the binding post 7 with which is engaged adjacent end portions of the conductive strips or arms8.

The strips or arms 8 are disposed in opposits directions and the outer end portion of each of said arms or strips terminates in a sleeve or barrel 9 through Which is disposed a rotatable spindle or rod 10, also of conductive material.

One of the conductors 2 has an interme diate portion a disposed transversely of the bore of the body B below one of the arms portion a and "the adjacent arm or strip 9. The ortion a has arranged thereon an insulating block 11 and which block extends .or strips 8' to prevent contact between said baseis a bearing member 14 of non-conductive material and which provides a support for the spindle or rod 10.

' The inner or inserted end portion of each of the spindles or rods 10 has secured thereto and in electrical connection therewith a crosshead l5 of conductive material and which, upon a quarter turn of said spindle or rod, has electrical engagement with a contact member 16 and which contact member is in electrical connection with the central contact 17 of the adjacent or coacting socket S or S.

Each of the spindles or rods 10 extends exteriorly of the body B through a wall thereof and engaged with said extended portion of the spindle or rod is a button 18, of non-conductive material.

In order that convenient access may be had within the body B, a wall thereof substantially midway of the body B is cut away, as at 19, and the end walls of said cut-away portion are provided with the recesses 20 in each of which a spindle or rod 10 partially engages. 1

The opening 19 is normally closed by the cap or closure member 21, also of non-conductive material, and which is provided in its end edges with the recesses 22 adapted to register with the recesses 20 and in each of which a spindle or rod 10 partially extends.

The cap or closure member is maintained in applied position through the medium of a rod 23 disposed through the central portion of said cap or closure member and having threaded engagement with the portion of the wall of the body B opposed to the cut-away portion or opening 19. The portion of the rod 23 within the body B is sur rounded by a sleeve or barrel 24 of non-conductive material whereby the possibility of a short circuit is prevented.

In practice the plug P is adapted to be engaged in the ordinary manner within a socket comprised in a line leading from a suitable source of electrical energy. A plug of conventional type and carried by a line leading to any desired point and for any particular purpose is adapted to be engaged within each of the sockets S and S. However, the electrical connections between the plug and each of the sockets S or S are under control of the crossheads or movable contacts carried bythe spindles or rods 10 and as each of these spindles or rods 10 is capable of independent operation, it may bereadily understood that the electrical connection with either of the sockets S or S may be opened or closed independently of the other and as required.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a connector constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason "of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reasonI do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. An electrical connector comprising a tubular body having an outstanding plug substantially midway thereof, said plug being provided with apair of contact members, sockets arranged within the opposite end portions of the bore of the tubular member, each of said sockets being provided with a pair of contact members, arms in electrical connection with the contact members of the plug and extending inwardly of the bore of the tubular member, an electrical connection between a contact member of each of the sockets and one of the arms, a rotatable member coacting with each of the sockets and in electrical connection with the second arm, each of said rotatable members being provided with a contact member for engagement with the second ,contact member of the adjacent socket.

2. An electrical connector comprising a tubular body having an outstanding plug substantially midway thereof, each of said sockets being provided with a pair of contact members, sockets arranged within the opposite end portions of the bore of the tu bular member, each of said sockets being provided with a pair of contact members, arms in electrical connection with the contact members of the plug and extending inwardly of the bore of the tubular member, an electrical connection between a contact member of each of the sockets and one of the arms, a rotatable member coacting with each of the sockets and in electrical connection with the second arm, each of said rotatable members being provided with a contact member for engagement with the second contact. member of the adjacent socket, each of the rotatable members constituting aspindle extending exteriorly of the body.

3. An electrical connector comprising a tubular body having an outstanding plug substantially midway thereof, said plug be ing provided with a pair of contact members, sockets arranged within the opposite end portions of the bore of the tubular member, each of said sockets being provided with a pair of contact members, arms in electrical connection with the contact members of the plug and extending inwardly of the bore of the tubular member, an electrical connection between a contact member of each of the sockets and one of the arms, a rotatable member coacting with each of the sockets exteriorly of the body, and a bearing memand in electrical connection with the secber for each of the spindles secured to the 0nd arm, each of saidrotatable members bebase of the coacting socket. 10 ing provided with a contact member for en- In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my 5 gagement with the second contact member signature.

of the adjacent socket, each of the rotatable members constituting a spindle extending FLAKE M. WAKEFIELD. 

